Page 15 - AsiaElec Week 33 2021

AsiaElec
NEWS IN BRIEF
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yesterday as it announced its first-half figures, and said China had made 238,000 tons of polysilicon in the first half of the year, as well as 105 GW of silicon wafers, 92.4 GW of solar cells and 80.2 GW of solar modules.
Luoyang said those figures were “recently released by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology” and amounted to a 57% year-on-year rise in cell output, a 51% hike in module production, a 40% uplift in wafer manufacturing and 16% growth in polysilicon output.
The bumper effect of solar panel glass prices which continued to rise into the first quarter of this year was illustrated by a first- half net profit of RMB222mn ($34.2mn) from Luoyang’s new energy glass unit, a rise from RMB68.8mn in January-to-June last year. The 2021 six-month figure came from new energy operating income of RMB1.4bn ($216mn) – up from RMB822mn ($127mn) a year ago.
By contrast, Luoyang’s other main business, providing glass for information displays, posted a first-half net profit of RMB25.6mn ($3.95mn), from operating income of RMB195mn ($30mn).
The manufacturer said two new solar module glass production facilities in Hefei and Tongcheng remain on track to start operations next month and in November, respectively, and added plans are progressing for another new fab, in Yixing.
RENEWABLES
PTT aims for 12-GW green
targets, sets sights on EVs
Thailand’s state-owned PTT is setting its sights on a future in electric vehicles (EV) and more renewable power, Reuters reported.
“We have a new vision,” Auttapol Rerkpiboon said, laying out plans for growth and increasing its renewable power target
to 12 gigawatts (GW) by 2030, from 8 GW previously.
“Energy has arrived at a point of change, moving more towards renewables, and fossil fuels are contributing to climate change - its time we adjust our vision.”
PTT also targets 9mn tonnes of liquefied natural gas per year and reach 8 GW of electricity from conventional sources by 2030.
It plans to have at least 30% of net income from new energy and business sources like EV, life science and logistics by 2030, Auttapol said.
In May it announced a partnership with Taiwan’s Foxconn 2317.TW on EV production.
PTT plans to invest $1bn to $2bn over the next five to six years in a facility to produce smart chassis for EVs, said senior executive for innovation, Noppadol Pinsupa.
It could become a regional export centre, he added, building on Thailand’s position
as Asia’s fourth-largest autos assembly and export hub. Thailand is a production base for top carmakers, such as Toyota 7203.T and Honda 7267.T.
“The factory will be able to produce an EV and the smart chassis, the key technology in an EV that manages electricity,” CEO Auttapol said.
“Auto brands who have not developed this can order it from us.”
The company this year has also formed joint ventures in plant-based meats, pharmaceuticals and cloud computing to boost new business streams.
PTT’s subsidiaries have invested over $7.5bn, mostly overseas, in chemicals, renewable power, biopolymers.
“There will continue to be investments
at home and abroad,” Auttapol said, adding cashflow was sufficient, with room to borrow more.
NUCLEAR
Doosan Heavy delivers
anti-seismic protection to
Chinese nuclear plants
Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction (DHIC) is supplying instrumentation and control technologies for two nuclear power plants in China.
DHIC signed the contract with China Techenergy Co. (CTEC), a subsidiary of state- owned energy company CGN. The company will deliver an industrial anti-seismic protection system for the Tianwan units 7 and 8, located on the coast of Jiangsu Province in eastern China.
Completion of the contract is expected by 2024.
The Tianwan deal follows an agreement with CTEC to supply the anti-seismic protection system to China’s Xudapu nuclear units 3 and 4 earlier this year.
Kiyong Na, CEO of Doosan Heavy’s Nuclear Business Group said, “We will commit to successfully carry out Xudapu units 3 & 4 and Tianwan units 7 & 8 projects with CTEC as the general contractor, and
at the same time continue to pursue new opportunities to participate in overseas nuclear power plant markets.”
Tianwan currently has six operating
units with 7 and 8 going into construction. Completion and commissioning are expected by 2027.
If completed and operational, the nuclear power plant would be the world’s largest with a generating capacity of more than 8GW, according to reports.
Xudapu is another China nuclear project planned for completion and operation later this decade.
Week 33 18•August•2021
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